Automobile Fuel Efficiency for Your Street Machine!

So, you have a powerful street machine, capable of burning up the track or the strip. Chances are that while that machine is great for racing, it is also a daily driver. With skyrocketing fuel prices, you may be tempted to go out and buy a rice burner, in order to save a little on fuel costs. Before you purchase another car, there are a few things you can do to make your rocket ride more like an economy car.

First, let's start with tire pressure. This is one of the easiest things to modify, whether driving to work or roaring down the track. Make sure that your tire pressure is at the vehicle's specified rating. If your tires are considerably larger than what came on the vehicle to begin with, you'll need to add a few pounds of air. While it may be tempting to just fill your tires until they show not slack (that curve at the bottom where the rubber meets the road) this is actually a bad decision. Higher tire pressure will save you on gas, but will reduce tire life and lessen safety.

The second thing you can do is to change your driving habits. Combine trips to the store, reduce driving to the bare necessities and, above all, drive differently. If your car is geared for performance, the temptation to use it that way during a grocery trip may be night overwhelming. Avoid this temptation and drive like your grandma, unless, that is, she's from Pasadena.

Reduce your speed, begin stopping well before your reach the stop sign or red light, reduce the amount of acceleration you use and you'll find that your powerhouse uses much less fuel than you might think.